School Programs

Kindergarten Programs

Adventures in Science (JK-SK)Hands-On Workshop

Take an imaginary journey over land and water. Meet an animal from the jungles of Madagascar, experiment with simple machines, and feel the warmth of a hot air balloon. Find your way home by using inquiry and working together!

Grades: Junior and Senior KindergartenDuration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 4 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 30 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English and French

Grades: Junior and Senior KindergartenDuration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45 Frequency: Monday to Friday, 4 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 30 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English and French

Primary Programs (Grades 1 to 3)

Fun with Geometry (1-3)Hands-On Workshop

Discover the wonder of mathematics through puzzles and hands-on exploration. Play with mirrors and marvel how 2D shapes transform into 3D figures. Create symmetrical designs with magnetic construction sets and identify geometric properties. Have fun with geometry!

Grades: 1 to 3Duration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 2 sessions, 4 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 36 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English and French

Energy (1-3)Hands-On Workshop

Spin, jump, snap, fly! Toys do all sorts of energetic things. But where does that energy come from? Where does it go? Can energy be stored? Transform kid energy into light, sound, and motion. Explore the sun, gravity, wind, heat, electricity and moving water to understand the importance of energy in our lives.

“Loved the workshop! The Science Centre Educator was excellent - good rapport with children, appropriate level of instruction and good pacing.” Grade 1 teacher

Grades: 1 to 3Duration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 2 sessions, 4 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 36 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English and French

Explore living things and their adaptations through hands-on interaction. What do familiar species have in common with animals and plants from exotic locations? What role do non-living elements such as air, water and soil play in the environment? Examine an animal skull, discover the hiding place of a dead leaf butterfly, and touch a hissing cockroach - if you dare!

Grades: 1 to 3Duration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 4 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 36 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English and French

Matter and Materials (1-3)Hands-On Workshop

“What’s that made of?” Explore different properties and characteristics of materials. Watch liquids flow – then turn into solids before your eyes! Trace an object through the manufacturing process to discover the remarkable changes raw materials undergo to become the fascinating stuff that makes up our world.

“I liked the way the Educator introduced the science topics, modelled the activities and then gave the children hands-on activities to try it out.” Grade 3 teacher

Grades: 1 to 3Duration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 2 sessions, 4 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 36 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English and French

Simple Machines and Forces (1-3)Hands-On Workshop

Start ... Stop! Change direction! Increase your understanding of forces through experimentation with simple machines. Design a system of ramps to provide safe passage for a marble. Use friction, gravity, magnetism and air pressure to create controlled movement. Be amazed at the power of levers and watch a student lift their teacher off the ground.

Grades: 1 to 3Duration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 2 sessions, 4 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 36 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English and French

Structures (1-3)Hands-On Workshop

Investigate balance, stability, shape, materials and function. Experiment with compression, tension and load. Design and build bridges, towers and arches using various materials, then test their structural limits!

Grades: 1 to 3Duration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 2 sessions, 4 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 36 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English and French

The Night Sky (1-3)Planetarium Program

Where does the sun go in the evening? Travel to the dark countryside and surround yourself with stars and other visible objects in the night sky. Explore the phases of the moon as it orbits the Earth. Take a ride into space as you visit the Moon, Saturn and beyond!

Grades: 1 to 3Duration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 4 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 36 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English and French

Junior/Intermediate Level (Grades 4 to 8)

CLICKERS: An Audience Response System allows students to make predictions, express opinions, answer questions and see their accumulated responses live.

Action Earth (4-8)Interactive Science Presentation

What is a keystone species? Examine habitats, biodiversity and food webs through up-close observation of a living sea star. How will humans fuel our future? Harness “student power” with a bicycle generator and feel the energy stored in a hydrogen balloon. Work together to make the best choices for a sustainable future.

Grades: 4 to 8 Duration: 45 Minutes Times: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 4 times a day Capacity: 15 to 50 students at a time Price: $10 / student Language: English only

Body Works (4-8)Interactive Science Presentation

Explore the respiratory, circulatory and digestive systems of the human body by observing real organs and working models. Inflate a real pair of pig lungs, stretch horse intestines and listen to the sound of a student’s beating heart.

Grades: 4 to 8Duration: 45 MinutesTime: 12-12:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, once a day Capacity: 15 to 300 students at a time Price: $10 / student Language: English and French

Career Stories (7-8)Special Presentation

October 23 & 24 , 2017

Do your students know what they want to be when they grow up? Hear first-hand from four Science Centre staff on the different career paths they have taken: What were they like in grade 8? What tough decisions did they have to make? Our real-life role models share their experiences and demonstrate that pathways to success, while unique to everyone, are based on the development of 21st century competencies and a commitment to lifelong learning. Plus hear from Science School students (Grade 12) on what it’s like to go to high school at the Science Centre. (One of the four staff presenters will represent a skilled trade.)

Destination Space (4-8)Interactive Science Presentation

Do you have what it takes to survive the rigors of space travel? Will your blood boil without proper protection? Will your head explode? Observe the experiments to find out! Witness the explosive launch of a hydrogen-powered rocket! Suit up for space and see if you have the right stuff!

Grades: 4 to 8Duration: 45 Minutes Times: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 4 times a day Capacity: 15 to 50 students at a time Price: $10 / student Language: English and French

Energy Transformations (4-8)Interactive Science Presentation

Discover how various forms of energy are transformed and conserved. Get energized with an investigation into energy production. Explore how electrical energy was discovered and the impact it has had on society and the environment.

Grades: 4 to 8Duration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 4 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 50 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English and French

Environmental Solutions (6-8)Hands-On Workshop

How does human activity affect water quality? Investigate the effects of pollution on water systems and food webs. Test locally collected freshwater and surface water samples for pH, salinity, and nutrients. Examine invertebrate specimens to evaluate biodiversity. Solve a challenge using inquiry and design skills, working against the clock to build a retrieval device!

Program supports the Ministry of Education's focus on inquiry learning.

Fun with Chemistry (4-8)Interactive Science Presentation

Marvel at the power of chemistry by exploring both physical and chemical changes. Use liquid nitrogen’s boiling point of -196°C to identify changes of state, properties of matter and the particle theory. Observe a variety of mixtures, solutions and reactions. Be amazed by colourful and luminescent chemistry and spectacular combustion!

Grades: 4 to 8Duration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 2 sessions, 4 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 50 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English and French

Fun with Physics (4-7)Interactive Science Presentation

Lie on a bed of nails! Use your body weight to test bridges and domes! Discover the amazing physics of forces, structures and mechanisms! Enjoy this introduction to concepts such as stability, mechanical advantage and work."I liked how the Science Centre Educator used real-life examples to help the children understand difficult concepts." Grade 8 teacher

Grades: 4 to 7Duration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 4 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 50 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English and French

Heat Inquiry (7)Hands-On Workshop

Expand your understanding of heat and temperature using infrared thermometers and liquid crystal sheets. Explore conduction, convection and radiation. Investigate how different materials affect heat transfer and apply this knowledge to design a solution to a real world problem.

Program supports the Ministry of Education's focus on inquiry learning.

Grade: 7Duration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 4 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 36 students at a timePrice: $10 / studentLanguage: English and French

Inventors' Challenge: Flight (5-8)Hands-On Workshop

Apply your curiosity to combine science, engineering and art. Study flight to design a strong and stable flying structure. Investigate the forces of flight and use the properties of air to lift an unconventional pay load! Sharpen your technological problem-solving skills as you test and improve your invention.

Program supports the Ministry of Education's focus on inquiry learning.

Light and Sound (4-8)Interactive Science Presentation

Investigate the principles of light and sound energy. Make sound with fire, energize a light bulb with your body and let us steal your shadow! Explore how light and sound behave through engaging demonstrations on pitch, frequency, reflection, absorption and vibration.

"Worth the 4 hour drive! We will be back." Grade 4 teacher

Grades: 4 to 8Duration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 4 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 50 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English and French

My heart is racing, my mouth is dry and my stomach is in knots! Don’t worry, everyone feels anxious sometimes. Explore what’s really going on in our brains when we experience anxiety, how it affects our bodies and why stress can sometimes be a good thing. This interactive science presentation explains how our brains and bodies react to stress, while introducing students to evidence-based coping strategies. Mental health applies to everyone — we can all take steps to enjoy life and deal with the challenges you face each day!

Grades: 6 to 8Duration: 45 MinutesDates: April 30, May 1, 2, 3 & 4, 2018Times: 11-11:45 and 12-12:45Capacity: 15 to 350 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English

Pulleys and Gears (4)Hands-On Workshop

Gear up for action as your team creates systems of pulleys and gears! Who will win the tug-of-war using the block and tackle? Learn how these simple machines make life easier by changing force, speed and direction to give you the mechanical advantage!

Grade: 4 Duration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 2 sessions, 4 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 36 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English and French

Rocks and Minerals (4-8)Hands-On Workshop

Unearth the differences among rocks and minerals! Use techniques practiced by geologists to discover physical properties of minerals and identify specimens. Dig into the everyday use of rocks and minerals in your home, school and life.

Grades: 4 to 8Duration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 4 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 36 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English and French

Serious Science (7-8)Interactive Science Presentation

Can you stand the pressure? Or take the heat? Find out by taking the “serious” out of science. Watch money burn in thermal infrared, use fluid mechanics to deploy a vacuum cannon and experiment with liquid nitrogen. Have fun with fluids, pressure and heat.

Grades: 7 and 8Duration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 4 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 50 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English and French

Solar System Revealed (4-8)Planetarium Program

Discover how you can explore the planets from home with your own eyes. Then blast off from Earth and travel to alien worlds. View the moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn up close! Voyage to the edge of the solar system and then continue your trip as you leave our home galaxy, the Milky Way. From here, soak up the view and experience the vastness of the Universe.

Grades: 4 to 8Duration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 4 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 40 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English and French

Space Mission: Voyage to Mars (5-8)Challenger Learning Centre Program

September 18, 2017 to June 22, 2018

Fasten your virtual seatbelts and prepare to blast off into space in Canada's only Challenger Learning Centre! In this NASA-inspired Mission Control and Spacecraft full scale model, your students will role-play as Astronauts and Mission Controllers to solve problems as they come face-to-face with the challenges and excitement of landing on Mars. This interactive and immersive science experience promotes STEM learning and highlights the value of teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking and effective communication. Prepare for an amazing journey!

The year is 2076. After months in space, your team of astronauts has finally arrived at the Red Planet to replace the team living on Mars for the past two years. Anxious to return to the comforts of Earth, the Mars Base team must safely guide the spacecraft through several manoeuvres before landing. Together teams must calculate trajectories, plot a landing path and launch probes to the Martian moons. However, weather sensors indicate a storm is brewing which threatens the success of the mission…No one said going to Mars would be easy!

Teacher OrientationTo better prepare students for their Space Mission, teachers are strongly urged to book and attend a FREE orientation offered in the Challenger Learning Centre at the Ontario Science Centre. Space-related classroom activities are provided at all orientation sessions. Pre-booking is required.

These materials are specially designed to help students understand the scenario and prepare for their individual job assignments through skill-building activities. To gain the maximum benefit from a Space Mission, students should spend time working through these activities several weeks prior to their Science Centre visit. On mission day teachers need to bring a completed "Crew Manifest" assigning students to various teams.

“My students change noticeably as a result of going through the training and the mission itself. They become more confident, mature and flexible.” (Grade 6 teacher)

Orientation Dates

September 23, 2017, Voyage to Mars, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

October 14, 2017, Voyage to Mars, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

November 18, 2017, Voyage to Mars, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

December 9, 2017, Voyage to Mars, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

January 20, 2018, Voyage to Mars, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

February 10, 2018, Voyage to Mars, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

March 3, 2018, Voyage to Mars, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

April 14, 2018, Voyage to Mars, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

May 5, 2018, Voyage to Mars, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Supervision requirements for Space Missions: Two supervisors minimum. Space Mission programs cannot be delivered if this requirement is not met.

Witness the power of electricity with shocking demonstrations. From Galvani to Tesla, re-discover the practical applications of current, circuits and resistance. Understand how electric energy is generated, and be a part of a human electric circuit. Get energized with a spark-tacular static electric discharge!

Grade: 9Duration: 45 MinutesDates: November 27 & December 8, 2017 and May 17, 24 & 31, 2018 Time: 11-11:45Capacity: 15 to 300 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English only

Chemistry Concepts in Action (9-12)Interactive Science Presentation

Use liquid nitrogen to bring gas laws into action. How does matter behave at low pressures and extreme temperatures? Witness the marvels of chemistry as substances change before your eyes. Experience topics such as redox reactions, neutralization, polymers and combustion.

Grades: 9 to 12Duration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 4 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 50 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English and French

Climate Change (10)Special Interactive Science Presentation

November 27 & December 8, 2017 and April 18, 23 & 24, 2018

Understand the complex connections between human activity, greenhouse gases, heat transfer and climate change. Investigate past climate data, see ocean acidification in action and compare Canada to the world. Use a physical climate model to test whether you can stabilize the Earth's climate.

Cosmic Connections (9)Planetarium Program

How do we know what's out there? Why did our ancestors think that the Earth was at the centre of everything? Fly through the solar system and see the Milky Way galaxy with infrared eyes. Explore the structure of the cosmos all the way to the outer reaches of the visible universe. Use diffraction gratings to investigate emission spectra and understand what gave rise to the Big Bang Theory.

Grades: 9Duration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 4 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 40 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English and French

DNA Fingerprinting (12 Biology)Hands-On Workshop

Now booking January 8 to June 15, 2018

Obtain your unique DNA fingerprint in this hands-on workshop by using current biotechnology techniques and equipment. Extract DNA from your cheek cells and amplify it using the polymerase chain reaction. Separate the resulting DNA fragments using gel electrophoresis; analyze the pattern of bands to determine your genotype and the genotypic frequency of the alleles you inherited.

"The students liked using the biotechnology equipment to obtain their own DNA fingerprint. It enabled them to put into practice what they had only seen in their textbooks." Grade 12 Biology teacher

Grades: 12 BiologyDuration: Full DayTimes: 9:30-4:30 (includes one hour lunch break)Frequency: Monday to Friday, once a dayCapacity: 20 to 30 students at a timePrice: $30 / student (includes visit to exhibit halls)Language: English only

Environmental Water Testing (11-12)Hands-On Workshop

Earth’s supply of clean water is being depleted by the industrialized world. Working in teams, investigate the quality of different water sources to engage with this environmental issue. Perform chemical, microbiological and spectrophotometric tests to determine concentrations of different contaminants. Design and build a device that collects clean and safe water.

Program supports the Ministry of Education's focus on inquiry learning.

Grades: 11 to 12Duration: 90 MinutesTimes: 10-11:30, 12-1:30 and 2-3:30Frequency: Monday to Friday, 3 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 60 students at a timePrice: $15 / studentLanguage: English only

Human Anatomy and Physiology (9-12)Interactive Science Presentation

Discover the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Observe real mammalian organs and use technology to monitor heart and lung function. Compare the lungs of a smoker to those of a non-smoker to confirm the negative impacts on health. Understand how tissues and organs function in the digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems.

Grades: 9 to 12Duration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 4 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 300 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English and French

Light and Optics (10)Interactive Science Presentation

Send music through fibre optics, ignite paper with a violet laser and make objects disappear! Investigate how infrared cameras can see through seemingly opaque materials and are used to judge energy efficiency. Understand how projectors and our eyes form images and how monitors create the full range of colours.

Grade: 10Duration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, once a dayCapacity: 15 to 300 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English only

My heart is racing, my mouth is dry and my stomach is in knots! Don’t worry, everyone feels anxious sometimes. Explore what’s really going on in our brains when we experience anxiety, how it affects our bodies and why stress can sometimes be a good thing. This interactive science presentation explains how our brains and bodies react to stress, while introducing students to evidence-based coping strategies. Mental health applies to everyone — we can all take steps to enjoy life and deal with the challenges you face each day!

Physics Principles in Action (9-12)Interactive Science Presentation

Deploy a vacuum cannon, lie on a bed of nails, and witness “the monkey and the hunter” experiment. Get involved with the fundamental concepts of physics through energizing demonstrations. Experiment with forces and motion, investigate the laws of dynamics and see how energy is transformed.

Grades: 9 to 12Duration: 45 MinutesTimes: 11-11:45, 12-12:45, 1-1:45 and 2-2:45Frequency: Monday to Friday, 4 times a dayCapacity: 15 to 50 students at a timePrice: $10 / student Language: English and French

Fasten your virtual seatbelts and prepare to blast off into space in Canada's only Challenger Learning Centre! In this NASA-inspired Mission Control and Spacecraft full scale model, your students will role-play as Astronauts and Mission Controllers to solve problems as they come face-to-face with the challenges and excitement of landing on Mars. This interactive and immersive science experience promotes STEM learning and highlights the value of teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking and effective communication. Prepare for an amazing journey!

The year is 2076. After months in space, your team of astronauts has finally arrived at the Red Planet to replace the team living on Mars for the past two years. Anxious to return to the comforts of Earth, the Mars Base team must safely guide the spacecraft through several manoeuvres before landing. Together teams must calculate trajectories, plot a landing path and launch probes to the Martian moons. However, weather sensors indicate a storm is brewing which threatens the success of the mission…No one said going to Mars would be easy!

Teacher OrientationTo better prepare students for their Space Mission, teachers are strongly urged to book and attend a FREE orientation offered in the Challenger Learning Centre at the Ontario Science Centre. Space-related classroom activities are provided at all orientation sessions. Pre-booking required.

These materials are specially designed to help students understand the scenario and prepare for their individual job assignments through skill-building activities. To gain the maximum benefit from a Space Mission, students should spend time working through these activities several weeks prior to their Science Centre visit. On mission day teachers need to bring a completed "Crew Manifest" assigning students to various teams.

“My students change noticeably as a result of going through the training and the mission itself. They become more confident, mature and flexible.” (Grade 6 teacher)

Orientation Dates

September 23, 2017, Voyage to Mars, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

October 14, 2017, Voyage to Mars, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

November 18, 2017, Voyage to Mars, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

December 9, 2017, Voyage to Mars, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

January 20, 2018, Voyage to Mars, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

February 10, 2018, Voyage to Mars, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

March 3, 2018, Voyage to Mars, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

April 14, 2018, Voyage to Mars, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

May 5, 2018, Voyage to Mars, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Supervision requirements for Space Missions: Two supervisors minimum. Space Mission programs cannot be delivered if this requirement is not met.

Way to Glow: Bacterial Transformation (11-12)Hands-On Workshop

September 26, 2017 to June 15, 2018Tuesday to Friday

Enter a real biotechnology lab and use state-of-the-art tools and protocols to transform E. coli bacteria with a gene from a bioluminescent jellyfish. Be amazed by the change in the bacteria as they glow brilliant green under ultraviolet light. Results are e-mailed 2-3 days after the program.